Moscow uses "cultural centres" in Africa to recruit fighters for war – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence

Russia is using its network of so-called Russian Houses in Africa – Kremlin-controlled cultural centres used for propaganda – as a cover for ideological indoctrination and the covert recruitment of local youths to fight against Ukraine.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU)

Details: DIU said the network of Russian Houses was established by Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian federal agency responsible for international humanitarian cooperation, in cooperation with the Centre for Public Diplomacy, headed by Russian MP Dmitry Savelyev.

The primary target of these centres is African youth, who are subjected to intensive ideological propaganda. Through screenings of Soviet and Russian films and the distribution of censored literature, Russia is seeking to create a distorted image of the country among young people.

Another key aspect of the programme involves preparing Africans to move to Russia under the pretext of education or employment. They are presented with a curated image of a prosperous life, taught the Russian language and encouraged to accept misleading promises of opportunity.

Quote: "The reality, however, is dramatically different from this picture. For many Africans, including students, travelling to Russia ends with them signing a contract with the occupation forces and getting killed in assault units on the front lines of the criminal war against Ukraine."

Details: DIU said the Kremlin is attempting to cultivate an entire generation of ideologically loyal Africans in order to conceal its colonial exploitation of their countries while using people as a cheap source of military manpower.

At present, Russian Houses officially operate in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Zambia, the Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. Meanwhile, Rossotrudnichestvo is actively expanding a network of so-called partner centres. Although these are not always formally registered as state representative offices, they operate under the Russian House brand in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, the Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Madagascar and Namibia.

According to DIU, Moscow plans to open additional offices in eight more African countries. New centres are expected to appear in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Background:

• In April 2026, DIU revealed the Kremlin's plans to recruit at least 18,500 foreign mercenaries to fight against Ukraine by the end of 2026. Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation stated that Russian Houses serve as key hubs within this shadow recruitment infrastructure.
• In June, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that at least 2,965 citizens from 36 African countries had taken part in combat on Russia's side. Several African states, including Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, have repeatedly demanded explanations from Moscow and called for an end to the illegal recruitment of their citizens, but the Russian Foreign Ministry has continued to ignore those demands.

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